000 AXPZ20 KNHC 260216 TWDEP Tropical Weather Discussion NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL 0131 UTC Tue Dec 26 2017 Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Equator to 32N, east of 140W. The following information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations, radar, and meteorological analysis. Based on 0000 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through 0200 UTC. ..SPECIAL FEATURES... Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: A high pressure ridge extending south from Texas to the Sierra Madre Oriental range is maintaining a gap wind event over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Ship PBAD in the Gulf at 0000 UTC reported 30 kt wind and 9 ft seas (though the wind direction - from the south - was incorrect). It is likely that peak winds are at gale force. The high pressure ridge will only gradually fade and the gale conditions should be dropped by Tuesday afternoon. The gap wind event will continue for the next several days and may again reach gale force early Saturday morning when a new cold front in the Gulf of Mexico reaches the Chivela Pass in southern Mexico. Peak significant wave heights should be around 13 feet late tonight. Please refer to the latest high seas forecast issued under AWIPS/WMO headers HSFEP2/FZPN03 for more details. ...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH... A trough extends from a 1009 mb low at 06N79W to 08N107W. The ITCZ extends from 08N107W to 10N125W to beyond 08N140W. Isolated moderate convection within 120 nm south of axis between 110W and 125W. ...DISCUSSION... OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO... Please refer to the special features section above for details on the ongoing Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale event. Elsewhere, winds are fresh breeze or weaker and seas less than 8 ft for the next several days. OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR... A strong breeze gap wind event is ongoing over the Gulf of Papagayo, though no observations ahve been available during the last several hours. Moderate high pressure in the Caribbean Sea for the next few days will continue to cause fresh to strong breeze NE winds over the Gulf of Papagayo. These along with some SW swell from the southern Pacific Ocean will produce peak combined seas of up to 9 ft through Wednesday. From Thursday to Sunday, the seas will remain below 8 ft. Elsewhere, winds are fresh breeze or weaker and seas less than 8 ft for the next several days. REMAINDER OF THE AREA... Winds are fresh breeze or weaker over the remainder of our area currently and should remain that way through Sunday. A long-period NW swell is producing peak seas in our area north of 25N and weat of 135W of about 10 ft, as observed by a couple altimeter passes around 1900 UTC. These will gradually diminish as the wave train continues moving southeastward. On Friday and Saturday, the NW swell will combine with E swell induced by tradewinds to produce total seas of 8 ft near 15N125W. By Sunday, the seas will be below 8 ft. Elsewhere seas will remain below 8 ft through Sunday. $$ Landsea